Nicolas Van der Noot

Ph.D. Electromechanical Engineer

Born on October 11, 1990, in Brussels
Belgian nationality

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Professional Profile

Experienced software engineer with a focus on cutting-edge AI software development.
Specialized in machine learning, computer vision, 3D geometry, simulation, robotics and control.
Responsible for projects involving up to 7 software engineers (project and team lead experience).

Career

Since 2023
Since 2023	Staff engineer \| Sony Depthsensing Solutions
	Mix of team lead and active development activities for car safety applications. Steering projects with other managers to meet the needs of customers.
2019-2023
2019-2023	Senior Software Engineer \| Sony Depthsensing Solutions
	Computer vision developments for next generation automotive in-cabin software. Project and team lead activities.
2018-2019
2018-2019	R&D Software Engineer \| Sony Depthsensing Solutions
	Computer vision and machine learning software applications.
2017
2017	Research assistant - Ph.D. \| Université catholique de Louvain
	Robotics and control research for the WALK-MAN project (follow-up to Ph.D. thesis).

Education

2013-2017
2013-2017	Ph.D. candidate - F.R.S.-FNRS Aspirant
	Joint Ph.D. thesis between UCL \| Université catholique de Louvain and EPFL \| Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne.
2011-2013
2011-2013	Master of Science in Engineering, electromechanical orientation (mechatronics)
	UCL \| Université catholique de Louvain - All years: Highest honors
2008-2011
2008-2011	Bachelor of Science in Engineering, specialization in electricity and mechanics
	UCL \| Université catholique de Louvain - All years: Highest honors

Experience

Since 2022	Project and team lead
	Responsible for an automotive project and the team working on it (up to 7 engineers). Planning with other managers and leading the team to reach the objectives in a timely manner.
Since 2018	Development of computer vision solutions
	Main focus on the car industry needs, for safety and entertainment features. Work presented several times at the Consumer Electronics Show (Las Vegas).
Since 2013	Experience in machine learning
	Metaheuristic Optimization techniques (GA, PSO...) and Deep Neural Networks. Implementation of the full pipeline from data collection to training and deployment.
2013-2017	Robotics control
	AI control software design and optimization for robotic applications.
	Publication of 12 papers
	Journal and Conference papers (including their presentation in international conferences).
	Development of the Robotran simulation software
	C/C++ pipeline, real-time interactions, 3D visualization (OpenGL).
	Student projects supervision
	4 courses, 1 semester project and 6 master theses.
2012–2013	Erasmus exchange student at EPFL
	6 months, Switzerland.
2012	Eurobot cup
	International amateur robotics contest (2nd place of Belgium).

Awards

2016
2016	Second place for Best Conference Paper Award at BIOROB 2016 (second author).
2014
2014	Third place at the 2014 IEEE Region 8 Student Paper Contest (first author).
2013
2013	Best master thesis awarded by the UCLouvain IEEE Student Branch.
2013
2013	Prix Pierre Decoux 2013 for the best master thesis awarded by Alumni Ingénieurs Louvain.

Ph.D. thesis

Title
Title	Rich and Robust Bio-Inspired Locomotion Control for Humanoid Robots
Description
Description	Implementation of bio-inspired controllers to achieve dynamic walking on humanoid robots. The purpose was to obtain robust and human-like walking with biped robots, while steering their gait. This was a joint Ph.D. thesis between UCL and EPFL.

Languages

French
French	Mother language
English
English	Fluent (spoken & written)
Dutch
Dutch	Professional (spoken & written)

Computer skills

Languages
Languages	C/C++, Python, C#, Matlab, Java, html, CSS, JavaScript, PHP, SQL, Latex
Tools, libraries
Tools, libraries	Git, Mercurial, Gitlab, Jira, OpenGL, OpenCV, Qt, PyQt, SDL, TensorFlow, Keras, NNabla, CMake, CI/CD, conan, Jupyter Notebook, marimo, Unity, Unreal Engine

Personal interests

I am passionate about programming, numerical simulations, artificial intelligence, graphics computing, 3D geometry and robotics.
On a non-professional note, I enjoy playing badminton and tennis, walking, running, cycling, photography, as well as playing and developing video games.

Publications

Journal papers

Van der Noot N, Ijspeert AJ and Ronsse R (2019) Neuromuscular model achieving speed control and steering with a 3D bipedal walker. Autonomous Robots 43(6): pp. 1537-1554. DOI:10.1007/s10514-018-9814-6.
Van der Noot N, Ijspeert AJ and Ronsse R (2018) Bio-inspired controller achieving forward speed modulation with a 3d bipedal walker. The International Journal of Robotics Research 37(1): pp. 168–196. DOI:10.1177/0278364917743320.
Zobova AA, Habra T, Van der Noot N, Dallali H, Tsagarakis NG, Fisette P and Ronsse R (2017) Multi-physics modelling of a compliant humanoid robot. Multibody System Dynamics 39 (1-2), pp. 95-114. DOI: 10.1007/s11044-016-9545-4.

Conference papers

Van der Noot N, Ijspeert AJ and Ronsse R (2020) Trajectory Planning of a Bio-inspired Walker in 3D Cluttered Environments using Internal Models. In: 2020 8th IEEE RAS/EMBS International Conference for Biomedical Robotics and Biomechatronics (BioRob), New York (virtual), 29 November-02 December 2020, pp. 727-733. DOI: 10.1109/BioRob49111.2020.9224461.
Greiner P, Van der Noot N, Ijspeert AJ and Ronsse R (2018) Continuous Modulation of Step Height and Length in Bipedal Walking, combining Reflexes and a Central Pattern Generator. In: 2018 7th IEEE International Conference on Biomedical Robotics and Biomechatronics (BioRob), Twente, 26-29 August 2018, pp. 342-349. DOI: 10.1109/BIOROB.2018.8487799.
Harding M, Van der Noot N, Somers B, Ronsse R and Ijspeert AJ (2018) Augmented Neuromuscular Gait Controller Enables Real-time Tracking of Bipedal Running Speed. In: 2018 7th IEEE International Conference on Biomedical Robotics and Biomechatronics (BioRob), Twente, 26-29 August 2018, pp. 364-371. DOI: 10.1109/BIOROB.2018.8488054.
Heremans F, Van der Noot N, Ijspeert AJ and Ronsse R (2016) Bio-inspired balance controller for a humanoid robot. In: 2016 6th IEEE International Conference on Biomedical Robotics and Biomechatronics (BioRob), Singapore, 26-29 June 2016, pp. 441-448. DOI: 10.1109/BIOROB.2016.7523667.
Colasanto L, Van der Noot N and Ijspeert AJ (2015) Bio-inspired walking for humanoid robots using feet with human-like compliance and neuromuscular control. In: 2015 IEEE-RAS 15th International Conference on Humanoid Robots (Humanoids), Seoul, 3-5 Nov. 2015, pp. 26-32. DOI: 10.1109/HUMANOIDS.2015.7363518.
Van der Noot N, Colasanto L, Barrea A, van den Kieboom J, Ronsse R and Ijspeert AJ (2015) Experimental validation of a bio-inspired controller for dynamic walking with a humanoid robot. In: 2015 IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS), Hamburg, Sept. 28 2015-Oct. 2 2015, pp. 393-400. DOI: 10.1109/IROS.2015.7353403.
Zobova AA, Habra T, Van der Noot N, Dallali H, Tsagarakis NG, Fisette P and Ronsse R (2015) Multi-physics modelling of a compliant humanoid robot. In: ECCOMAS Thematic Conference Multibody Dynamics 2015, Barcelona, 29 June-02 July 2015.
Van der Noot N, Ijspeert AJ and Ronsse R (2015) Biped gait controller for large speed variations, combining reflexes and a central pattern generator in a neuromuscular model. In: 2015 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA), Seattle, WA, 26-30 May 2015, pp. 6267-6274. DOI: 10.1109/ICRA.2015.7140079.
Van der Noot N and Barrea A (2014) Zero-Moment Point on a bipedal robot under bio-inspired walking control. In: MELECON 2014 - 17th IEEE Mediterranean Electrotechnical Conference, Beirut, 13-16 April 2014, pp. 85-90. DOI: 10.1109/MELCON.2014.6820512.

Poster presentations

Van der Noot N, Ijspeert AJ and Ronsse R (2016) Neuro-Muscular Controller Based on Reflexes and a Central Pattern Generator to Achieve Gait Modulation. In: KoroiBot Final Workshop, Heidelberg, 13-14 September 2016.
Van der Noot N, Ijspeert AJ and Ronsse R (2016) Humanoid Robot Control Recruiting Muscles, Reflexes and a Central Pattern Generator. In: IEEE-EMB Benelux Chapter and the 14th National Day on Biomedical Engineering, Brussels, 4 March 2016.
Van der Noot N, Colasanto L, Ronsse R and Ijspeert AJ (2015) Porting Reflex-Based Muscles Control to Real Humanoid Robots. In: 2015 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA) - Workshop on Dynamic Locomotion and Balancing, Seattle, WA, 26 May 2015.
Van der Noot N, Dzeladini F, Ijspeert AJ and Ronsse R (2014) Simplification of the Hill Muscle Model Computation for Real-Time Walking Controllers with Large Time Steps. In: Dynamic Walking, Zurich, 10-13 June 2014.